Blue Bridge Lane
&
Fishergate House
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This period of activity dates to between the late 12th century and the early 14th century, and has been defined by the presence of a few principal ceramic wares - York Glazed Ware, Brandsby-type Ware and Beverley Ware - alongside the absence of Humber Ware and the presence of longer-lived coarse wares such as Gritty Ware. The presence of plain, peg and nib roof tile forms without brick, which also date from the late 12th century, was considered indicative. Further features with this ceramic profile, which contained large amounts of used brick, wall tile and hearth tile, have been allocated to Period 7, since brick was not commonplace until the 14th century and ought to have been in use for several years before disposal.
Activity of this date is much more intense than in the preceding period, particularly at Blue Bridge Lane (Figure 35). Clearly, this can be explained by the site lying within the precinct of St Andrew's Priory (founded between c.1195 and c.1202). Accordingly, occupation at the site is continuously dense until a period of decline after the Dissolution (Period 9A). The distribution of features suggests that particular areas were dedicated to different activities, characterised broadly as areas for rubbish disposal and areas for structural activity, with some evidence for continuity of use persisting into Periods 7 and 8. In succeeding periods, evidence for physical division of the precinct becomes clearer; however, during Period 6, there appeared to be broad zones of activity, possibly suggesting deliberate organisation of space, but no clear physical markers were identified.
Figure 35. Location of Period 6 features (Interactive SVG image)
Less intense activity has been identified at Fishergate House, and although the commencement of burial is not yet well-dated, some graves may belong to this period. Nevertheless, based on the quantities of slightly earlier pottery wares, both sites demonstrate more activity in the first half of Period 6, i.e. late 12th to early 13th century and a decline in the second half. At Blue Bridge Lane, this may reflect the intensity of the first monastic building campaign encountered as Period 6a (1195 to late 13th century) at 46-54 Fishergate (Kemp and Graves 1996, 71), although there is no clear explanation for corresponding evidence at Fishergate House. Deposition of pottery within graves is notoriously unreliable and is treated with due caution.
While both sites display evidence for sequence in the form of intercutting pits, for Period 6, there were few clear indications of a change in activity or of structures. The notable exception was at Blue Bridge Lane, where two structures, one timber, one stone, were encountered in Intervention 24. These are likely to be domestic buildings belonging to St Andrew's. The structures are dealt with in detail below, whereas the intercutting pits have been largely grouped together for the purposes of narration, with shared characteristics and unusual features discussed in more detail.
Structure 2
The following features were considered to belong to Structure 2: stone wall
foundation F543B, and construction cut F551B. Unfortunately, the structure
was encountered at the easternmost limit of Intervention 24, and no intact
floor levels were encountered to the west (Figure 36, Plate
61, right). It is assumed,
on the basis of the uncovered plan, that these floor levels exist beyond
the eastern limit of the intervention and that the area investigated represented
the ground outside of the building. Stone wall foundation F543B consisted
of a right-angled rubble-built mortar-bonded limestone wall foundation. The
footing was visible for a length of 1.20m x 0.80m and survived in places
up to three courses (c.0.20m) high; the missing superstructure
had apparently been robbed during Period 7, as represented by robber trench
F545B (Figure 37). The wall footing was constructed in a foundation trench,
F551B, which upon excavation, proved to be a shallow U-shaped trench measuring
0.25m deep, backfilled with a deposit of mixed clays, C2176B. Dateable material
recovered from these features consisted of a sherd of York Gritty Ware from
foundation trench F551B, and a sherd each of York Splashed Glazed Ware and
York Gritty Ware in robber trench F545B.
Too little of the structure was encountered to permit much by way of interpretation, although the choice of building material would suggest a building of enhanced construction, status and therefore, possibly function. It seems likely that Structure 2 represents an ancillary building within the monastic range.
Figure 36. Plan of Structures 2 and 3 (Interactive SVG image)
Figure 37. Intervention 24, south facing section (Interactive SVG image)
Structure 3
Structure 3 consisted of the following features: a length of beam slot, F552B, and postholes F548B, F549B/F553B, F550B and F554B, all of which were contemporary with floor F547B. Beam slot F552B was orientated north-south and was visible for a length of c.1.0m, cut away to the south by a concrete stanchion base, F542B (see Figure 36). The feature consisted of a shallow, steep-sided, flat-bottomed linear trench measuring 0.25m wide and 0.08m deep, backfilled once with C2190B. Dateable material recovered from the deposit consisted of a lozenge-headed pin dateable to the 11th or 12th century. The beam had been robbed during Period 8 and it is assumed that the building included a superstructure that was still visible in Period 8, well after the building's abandonment, since the robber trench was cut through a thick pack of brown humic soil, C2156B (see Figure 37). Without an intact superstructure, a beam in slot F552B would have remained undetected and unsalvaged.
Associated postholes were positioned to the east of F552B and were all well-defined
and square in plan, suggesting squared timbers were used in the building's
construction. F548B appeared as a feature with vertical sides and a flat
base, measuring 0.3m x 0.2m x 0.08m in the southwestern corner of Intervention
24. It was backfilled with a dark brown sandy clay (C2187B), which contained
animal bone and ceramic. F549B/F553B were defined as a post-void and construction
cut respectively. F549B consisted of a square posthole with vertical sides
and a flat base, measuring 0.15m x 0.15m x 0.05m; construction cut F553B
measured 0.23m x 0.16m x 0.07m and had been backfilled with a dark greyish-brown
silty clay (C2197B). Significantly, construction cut F553B was sealed by
the associated floor layers F547B, whereas F549B, which represented an upstanding
post, was abutted by the accumulative layers. This was the strongest evidence
for contemporaneity and the other postholes have been grouped on that basis.
Additionally, the layers which made F547B abutted beam slot F552B. Floor
F547B consisted of four layers, C2185B, C2186B, C2191B and C2193B, which
are believed to represent alternating clay floor make-up (C2193B and C2186B)
and subsequent dark humic occupation layers (C2185B and C2191B) (Plate
62, right).
Dateable material recovered from the floor layers included York Gritty Ware,
York Splashed Glazed Ware and Staxton Ware. Other postholes related to F552B
include F550B and F554B, which are located within the southwestern corner
of Intervention 24. Both were sub-rectangular in plan with u-shaped profiles
and flat bases. F550B measured 0.15m x 0.15m, with a depth of 0.06m, and
F554B, 0.3m x 0.2m x 0.05m; both were backfilled on one occasion with a dark
brown sandy clay.
Overall, the dearth of dateable material recovered from S2 and S3 has made allocation to Period 6 problematic. Pottery from the make-up of floor F547B could belong to Period 5; however, it is considered to be residual and construction and occupation of the building could well have been in the late 12th century. The dress pin with a lozenge-shaped head from beam slot F552B can also be generally dated to the 11th to 12th century. While timber structures of this date were encountered at 46-54 Fishergate, no stone building took place until Period 6a, with the erection of the monastic church and claustral range. Since elsewhere, so little Period 5 occupation has been convincingly identified, these structures have been allocated to Period 6, not least because of the known developments elsewhere within the monastic precinct.
On this basis, S2 and S3 have both been allocated to Period 6 and indeed, they may well have been constructed and occupied contemporaneously, although the stratigraphy is somewhat equivocal. S2 appears to have been robbed soon after disuse, since robber trench F545B was sealed by a thick soil layer, C2156B, whereas robber trench F535B cut through it. Clearly, the two structures were robbed at different times, and unfortunately, robber trench F545B obliterated the original level from which F551B/F543B had been constructed, thereby removing any evidence for possible sequential construction. While the two structures are made from different building materials, this alone cannot prove sequential development, since the choice of building material may have been influenced more by function and status than date.
Precinct zonation
Elsewhere, possible structural activity is present but more diffuse, represented at the western end of Intervention 15 and within Intervention 28, by a total of sixty-six postholes, some of which can be allocated tentatively to Period 6. Nonetheless, as a group the postholes are difficult to place within the sequence and, with the exception of five features, are simply cut into subsoil and sealed by the Period 9A orchard soil or its equivalents. The posthole group includes the following features: F158B to F161B, F231B, F271B, F274B to F283B, F285B, F287B to F290B, F292B, F294B to F297B, F299B to F302B, F304B to F308B, F311B, F313B, F315B, F317B to F324B, F326B to F328B, F337B to F340B, F342B, F343B, F345B, F346B, F350F, F398B to F400B, F507B, F513B, F527B, F569B, F572B and F573B (Figure 38). Some of these features are presented in Period 6, but could belong in multiple combinations to Periods 6, 7 or 8; occasional soil spreads indicate sequence, but dating material from these spreads was considered generally unreliable, and the majority of the features betrayed no particular arrangement.
Figure 38. Blue Bridge Lane Period 6 features, western concentration, post-excavation (Interactive SVG image)
Dateable material contained within the features ranges from Period 2 ceramic (considered residual from the patches of intact Roman soil C2040B) to Period 7 ceramic. In addition, a mid-8th century styca of Aethelred II and a sherd of glass flask or urinal of 13th to 15th century date were recovered from two postholes (F315B and F309B). More broadly, medieval pottery was recovered from only twelve of the sixty-six postholes and stratigraphic relationships existed between only four; where present such relationships consisted only of intercutting undated postholes, making the detection of shifting structures, or alterations to a structure, almost impossible.
In addition to analysis of the available dating evidence, shared characteristics such as shape, depth and width, similar backfills or the presence of packing stones were considered. Only two of the features showed evidence for packing stones or the presence of a post. F315B was defined as a small deep oval posthole containing three large stones, identified as disturbed packing stones, set in a matrix of brown clayey silt (C1696B). A residual Period 3 coin, a mid-8th century styca of Aethelred II, was recovered from C1696B, as well a sherd of residual Period 2 pottery and a sherd of Staxton ware. F317 showed evidence for a pointed post or stake in its post-excavation form. Since the features cut into homogenous buried soil C2040B, and were sealed by orchard soil C1221B, the backfill material was dominated by homogenous dark greyish-brown clayey silt deposits.
Posthole depths ranged from 0.07 to 0.48m, with nine measuring less than 0.10m; the remainder measured up to nearly 0.50m deep. The distribution of the deeper postholes favoured the northern side of Intervention 15, although this may be a bias introduced by undetected truncation increasing toward the south. Thirteen of the deeper features appeared to relate to the presence of a circular structure (F281B, F299B, F300B, F304B, F306B to F308B, F313B, F315B, F317B, F318B, F320B and F322B) (see Figure 38; Figure 39). This arrangement of postholes is presented tentatively, since depth is the only criterion for their grouping. Consequently, no structure number has been allocated, and several other combinations of curvilinear and rectilinear alignments are possible, though no evidence exists to group them convincingly or confidently. The circular structure consists of a principal arrangement of posts, but there are unexplained differences in the character and spacing of the primary posts as well as unexplained internal posts. To the south, a possible but tentative grouping of a semi-circular arrangement has been identified, and may represent a predecessor of the shifting structure (F271B, F275B, F276B, F278B, F301B, F302B and F319B). As a group, the postholes are positioned at the very limit of the monastic precinct, and given their form and size, are unlikely to represent substantial or high-status domestic buildings. Instead, they may relate to smaller, possibly short-lived structures with an ancillary function such as shelter or storage. Unfortunately, no internal features, floor levels or clearly associated features have been identified, making function almost impossible to deduce.
Figure 39. Blue Bridge Lane Period 6 features, western concentration, selected posthole portfolio (Interactive SVG image)
Following detailed post-excavation study, a small group of postholes have been assigned to Period 6 and are marked clearly on Figure 38. They have been grouped using a small assemblage of Period 6 pottery and had depths exceeding 0.20m. Three contained what is considered to be reliable Period 6 pottery, and while Period 5 pottery was present in four, it was identified as probably residual during ceramic assessment. Consequently, the Period 6 pottery recovered from three features provides the preferred date for the group. It should be noted that this selection accounts for only twelve of the posthole group, and few of the remaining postholes cannot be grouped or dated more securely. Nonetheless, the postholes are scattered over the western part of Intervention 15 and appear to be genuinely more unusual to the east; conversely, the intensive pit digging of the eastern quadrants is almost absent from the west. This general grouping of feature-type (and thus, activity) suggests that the zonation apparently established in Period 6 was respected until the end of the monastery.
Period 6 pits
Only two intercutting pits, F251B and F252B, were identified close to the suite of postholes, and are assumed to have been used for rubbish disposal during Period 6, confirming the structural nature of the area. Pit F252B consisted of a sub-rectangular pit with an irregular base. Both pits had been truncated by a concrete stanchion base, F169B, and their western edges lay beyond the limit of intervention (see Figure 38). F252B had been filled initially with a silty sand, C1571B, which was rich in roof tile (64kg), including plain, peg and ridge tile. A total of thirty iron nails were also recovered and are likely to relate to the roof tiles contained in the fill. This deposit was also rich in ceramics, containing good amounts of Period 6 pottery such as York Splashed Glaze Ware, Beverly Ware, Staxton Ware, York Glazed Ware and Gritty Ware. The feature was then backfilled with a comparatively sterile silty-clay, C1570B, which disused the pit. Cut into F252B at its northern side was pit F251B, which consisted of a shallow truncated feature with gently sloping sides, backfilled once with a sticky clayey-silt, C1561B. A good assemblage of ceramic, potentially of the post-Conquest period, was contained within its backfill and ceramic wares recovered consisted of York and York Splash Glazed Ware, although a quantity of plain and peg roof tile was also present.
Three principal clusters of Period 6 pits have been identified within Intervention 15, with more scattered features in others areas and interventions (see Figure 35). Two of the pit clusters to the east cut into Period 5 features (F222B, F234B, F237B and F249B, and F489B, F481B, F503B, F284B), and in the western area of Intervention 15, a cluster of pits has been identified, including F232B, F250B (and postholes F159B, F161B and F344B), F357B and F459B. Significantly, the contents of some of these pits contain the first indicators of a monastic lifestyle, including an iron stylus and an unusual one-piece elephant ivory comb with potential ecclesiastical connotations from pit F250B. In addition, the animal bone assessment identified relatively rich foodstuffs as compared with other periods on the site. These are indicators of higher-status occupation, and are thought to derive from S2 to S3 or similar structures close to the main excavation area.
A feature cluster was identified in the southern area of the eastern part of Intervention 15 and included five pits (F284B, F481B, F489B, F503B and F504B), which appear to have been associated with several postholes (F491B, F483B to F485B and F493B) (Figure 40). Scoop F504B was stratigraphically the earliest feature in the cluster and survived as a small crescentic island of two backfills, C2067B and C2068B. The rest of the feature had been truncated by the digging of F503B, which was identified as a sub-square pit measuring 1.0m x 0.70m x 0.20m deep. The feature was backfilled on two occasions with C2066B and C2065B, both of which contained animal bone and York Ware, York Splash Glazed Ware, Staxton Ware and Gritty Ware (Figure 41). F503B was potentially contemporary with a small posthole, F491B, since both were sealed by a soil spread, C2045B, which contained a sherd of York Ware. Once disused with a greyish-brown sandy clay with mortar flecks and charcoal (C2037B), F503B was cut by pit F489B, which was identified as a shallow sub-oval feature measuring 1.10m x 0.90m and surviving to a depth of only 0.15m. Adjacent to pit F489B was a row of four small circular postholes, F483B to F485B and F493B. The postholes appeared to form part of a right-angled alignment, and while F489 was potentially contemporary, neither this nor other features were clearly associated. The latest two features in the cluster, F284B and F481B, were also potentially in use at the same time. F284B consisted of a sub-oval shallow scoop with a single dark greyish-brown sandy-silt backfill, C1649B, and dateable material recovered included York Ware and Beverley Ware. F489B was defined as shallow sub-oval feature measuring 2.50m x 1.00m x 0.40m deep. The feature was well-defined against surrounding subsoil and deposits, although its final form was unsatisfactory, being quite amorphous and irregular.
Figure 40. Blue Bridge Lane Period 6 features, eastern concentration, post-excavation (Interactive SVG image)
To the north of this cluster, a second 'hotspot' was identified by the presence of proximate or intercutting features, which included F234B, F237B and F249B (see Figures 40 and 41). F237B consisted of a sub-rectangular feature measuring 1.20m x 1.50m, and survived to a depth of 0.30m. Upon excavation, the feature was found to contain a single backfill of silty clay, C1510B, from which York Gritty Ware, York Splash Glazed Ware, York Ware, Staxton Ware and residual Torksey Ware was recovered. To the east of F237B, two intercutting features, F234B and F249B, were also attributed to Period 6. F249B was the earlier and was defined as a truncated sub-circular feature measuring 1.00m wide, although any other dimensions had been removed by subsequent features. The feature survived to a depth of only 0.08m and had been backfilled once with a dark grey silty clay, C1555B. A sherd of York Gritty Ware was recovered from the deposit. Cutting F249B was posthole F234B, which was also truncated. Where visible, it consisted of a sub-circular cut which was found to contain a limestone post pad in the base, a construction cut backfill and post void (represented by C1544B, C1507B and C1506B respectively). A sherd of York Gritty Ware and an intrusive sherd of Humber Ware were recovered from the post void. Like the postholes identified in the pit cluster to the south, F234B could have been contemporary with pit F237B and represents trace evidence for areas of the precinct being demarcated by posts, or possibly fences, for rubbish disposal. An undated pit, F222B, has been allocated to this cluster, since both it and F237B are truncated by Period 8A ditch F219B; levels of truncation from the intensity of later activity were such that no more confident assertions are possible.
Figure 41. Blue Bridge Lane Period 6 features, eastern concentration, section portfolio (Interactive SVG image)
The third pit cluster is situated to the west and consists of pits F232B,
F250B, F357B, and F459B and several surrounding postholes (F159B, F161B and
F344B) (see Figure 38). F357B is the earliest pit in the complex and consisted
of a large pit measuring 2.00m in diameter and 2.10m deep. The feature was
backfilled with a series of sterile clays, at least two of which represent
probable episodes of collapse (C1919B, C1777B to C1779B and C1555B) (see Figure
41). F357B appears to have been intended as a clay quarry, and may relate
to building campaigns, particularly in light of the fact that the floors
of S3 were of clay. Dateable material from the backfilling of F357B included
York Gritty Ware, York Splash Glazed Ware and Staxton Ware, as well as 39kg
of plain and peg roof tile. Once disused, F357B was cut by a possible structural
feature slot (F250B and F424B). F250B was identified as an elongated sub-rectangular
feature measuring 1.40m x 0.60m, and upon excavation, proved to have survived
to a depth of 0.50m, despite having been truncated by later feature F249B.
Evidence for a post was clearly identified at the western edge of F250B,
allocated F424B, and vestigial traces of a second post were identified at
the eastern edge of F250B itself, suggested only by a small depression in
the base of the feature. As such, it would seem that F250B/F424B represents
a double post-in-trench feature. Recovered from the backfill of F250B were
sherds of York Ware, York Gritty Ware, York Splash Glazed Ware, Beverley
Ware and Staxton Ware. Most notably, an iron stylus and a one-piece elephant
ivory comb were recovered from backfill C1560B (Plate
63, right). The iron stylus
has a characteristic blunt end and spatulate-shaped head, and is a clear
indicator of literacy, while the comb represents an exotic object of some
status, not least because of its material, but also because it may have had
devotional significance to the owner.
Seven undated postholes may have been associated with nearby F250B, and include F159B, F161B and F344B. Other structural features may belong in this cluster, F440B and F441B, but are not close enough to F250B/F424B to be associated, nor do they appear to be aligned or arranged together.
F232B was defined as a sub-rectangular pit to the west of F250B, measuring 1.50m x 0.90m x 0.40m deep. Again, the backfills of F232B, which consisted of two deposits of clayey silt, were not particularly rich in material and its seems that the original purpose of the feature was to quarry clay. Dateable material recovered included York Splash Glazed Ware, York Gritty Ware and York Ware as well as small amount of plain roof tile. To the east of F232B, a shallow pit was defined and excavated, F459B. The feature appeared as a sub-rectangular feature measuring 1.10m x 0.75m x 0.25m deep, backfilled once with C1970B. Dateable material recovered included residual Period 2, 3 and 4 ceramic as well as Staxton Ware.
Scattered pits allocated to this period do not fit easily into any clear distribution, although the function of some could easily be related to building campaigns. To the east of the posthole group, a complex of features possibly relating to the storage and processing of lime mortar were identified, F4B, F189B to F191B and F393B (see Figure 35). The principal component of the complex is represented by F4B, which was identified during evaluation (Intervention 1). Initially thought to be an east-west orientated ditch, the feature was half-sectioned, and then the remaining half was sectioned again in order to fully understand the backfilling sequence. Complete excavation was undertaken during further investigation within Intervention 15, and revealed the feature to be a large sub-square pit with vertical edges. Set into two corners of the eastern side of the feature were two postholes, F190B and F191B, suggesting that the pit had an associated structure set within it (Figure 42) (Plate 64 and 65). The fill of F4 was identified as a pale yellow lime mortar which was rich in sand and held the impressions of straw within it. The layer was spread over the base of the entire feature and measured up to 0.10m deep. Overlying the fill of the feature was a series of mixed silty clay backfills, derived clearly from the erosion of a Period 3 pit, which had been exposed by the construction of F4B (C1040B, C1039B, C1031B and C1030B) (see Figure 41). These deposits were rich in animal bone and redeposited Period 3 material from F13, including loomweight fragments and a sceat. The final backfilling appears to have been more rapid and deliberate and consisted of a series of silty clays (C1005B, C1006B, C1028B and C1029B). There was no evidence for C1041 having been used as a base for either a stone structure or a timber post, nor was the backfilling system reminiscent of a robber trench. The requirement for lime mortar or plaster in the first monastic building campaign may provide an explanation for the F4B complex, which seems to fit well with the broad characterisation of Period 6 features relating to the first monastic building campaign to the north.
Figure 42. F4B feature complex, post-excavation plan (Interactive SVG image)
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| Plate 64 | Plate 65 |
Two outlying pits were also identified as Period 6 features, F44B and F230B (see Figure 35 and 40). F44B was identified as an isolated pit and was the easternmost Period 6 feature encountered at the site. F44B was defined as a large sub-oval feature orientated east-west and measuring 3.10m x 1.50m, and survived to a depth of c.0.40m. Upon excavation, the feature proved to have been backfilled once with C1164B, which contained Beverley, York Glazed, Brandsby-type, Staxton, York and York Splash Glazed Wares. An assemblage of plain and peg roof tile, ridge tile and nine iron nails were also recovered. F230B was an outlier to the western pit cluster and was defined as a sub-square pit measuring 1.20m x 1.20m and 0.55m deep. The feature was truncated by a concrete stanchion base F117B, and was also cut by three later postholes. In the northeastern and southeastern corners of the pit, two possible post impressions were identified, although no evidence for postholes was identified during excavation of the feature backfill. The backfill system consisted of alternating redeposited clay subsoil (C1505B and C1503B) and silty-clays (C1504B and C1494B) deposited rapidly. Dateable material recovered from the feature included a single sherd of York Ware from basal backfill C1505B.
A suite of truncated Period 6 features was also identified in Intervention 22 (F395B, F396B, F418B, F430B and F439B) alongside several postholes (F419B, F429B, F436B and F423B) (see Figure 40). F418B was a well-defined sub-oval feature measuring 1.50m x 1.80m, which proved to be 0.90m in depth. The pit had been backfilled on one occasion with a very dark grey sandy-silt, C1807B, from which sherds of York Gritty, North Yorkshire Gritty, York, York Splash Glaze and Staxton Ware were recovered (see Figure 41). Possibly associated with this pit were two intercutting postholes, F419B and F429B. F429B was the earlier of the two and, although irregular, the presence of a stone setting at the base, along with its post-excavation plan, are suggestive of a double-post arrangement. This was disused and replaced by F419B, a circular posthole, 0.60m in diameter and contained packing stones. The features are not clearly associated with any others in the area.
To the east of F418B, features became increasingly truncated. F422B was defined as a sub-square pit and a small posthole, F428B, was identified in its northeastern corner. The feature had been backfilled with three distinct deposits, C1802B, C1914B and C1915B, although they gave no clue as to the function of the pit. Dateable material recovered consisted of sherds of Beverley-type Ware, York Splash Glazed Ware, York Gritty Ware and a sherd of Central Lincolnshire Ware. Unfortunately, F422B disappeared beyond the southern limit of Intervention 22, but may have had a corresponding post-setting in its southeastern corner, and as such, would have been reminiscent of several other Period 6 features, such as F230B and F4B.
Indeed, two intercutting sub-square pits to the east of F422B, F395B and F396B were associated with double post arrangements. F395B consisted of a sub-square pit measuring 1.40m x 1.20m and proved to be no greater than 0.15m deep. The pit had been backfilled on one occasion with C1788B, a dark brown, compact sandy clay which gave no real indication of the function of the pit, since it was largely sterile. Dateable material recovered included Staxton, York, York Gritty and York Splash Glazed Ware. Associated with F395 were two small postholes, F423B and F436B, which appeared to be set deliberately to the north and south of the feature. F396B was backfilled with a single deposit of brown sandy soil veined with greenish-brown silt mixed with clods of redeposited subsoil, C1864B. The pit had clearly lain open for some time, allowing periodic collapse, a fact supported by the three post settings detected in the post-excavation plan of the feature. The greenish component of the feature backfill was thought to be cess-like, although environmental assessment recorded no faecal concretions or other indicators of the presence of cess. Dateable material recovered from C1864B included York Gritty Ware, Brandsby-type Ware, North Yorkshire Gritty Ware and York Splash Glazed Ware.
Three outlying truncated scoops, which may represent the truncated remains of pits, were also recorded and excavated within the intervention, F439B, F392B/F426B and F430B. F439B was located at the northern extremity of Intervention 22, and was defined as a sub-oval feature which cut into Period 2 ditch, F438B. The truncated pit consisted of a shallow scoop measuring 1.50m wide and visible for a length of 0.30m. The feature had been backfilled on one occasion and was undated. Allocation to Period 6 was made on the basis of the surrounding truncated pits of that date. To the southeast of F439B, a more securely dated pit was identified and excavated, F392B, which consisted of a sub-circular shallow scoop measuring 0.90m in diameter. Upon excavation, the feature proved to be no greater than 0.15m deep, and was backfilled once with a sterile mixed clay containing two fragments of plain roof tile. F430B was situated to the east of F392B and was defined as a sub-square scoop measuring 1.00m wide, disappearing beneath the northern limit of the intervention. The feature proved to be no greater than 0.25m deep and was backfilled once with C1785B, a dark greyish-brown sandy-clay. Dateable material recovered included York Ware, York Gritty Ware and York Splash Glazed Ware.
Scant evidence for Period 6 occupation was detected at Fishergate House, and was represented only by a possible enclosure suggested by two ditches (F274F/F322F and F284F) and a robber trench or cobble foundation cut by an inhumation (F237F) (Figure 43 and 44). F274F was identified as a NE-SW orientated ditch, thought to have been contemporary with another ditch, F263F. However, the post-excavation plan and dating material recovered make it clear that F274F was earlier than F263F, which has been allocated to Period 7. A 1.20m sample of ditch F274F was excavated, and it was found to be 1.40m wide x 0.60m deep, the profile consisting of quite steeply sloping sides with a distinct sharper angle towards the base. The ditch had been backfilled with three distinct deposits: a dark brown silty clay (C1515F), a thin charcoal-rich silt (C1513F) and finally, a brown sandy-clay (C1495F). Dateable material recovered included a sherd of Gritty Ware and a sherd of Humber Ware, presumed to be residual from F263B. Four fragments of plain and peg roof tile were also recovered. A continuation of F274F, F322F was encountered in the southern extension of Intervention 4, where it had been cut by a pit, although as neither was threatened by development, they remained unexcavated. Pottery was recovered from definition cleaning of F323F, and consisted of two sherds of York Splash Glazed Ware, which does not conflict with the allocation of F322F to Period 6.
Figure 43. Fishergate House Period 6 features, post-excavation (Interactive SVG image)
Figure 44. Fishergate House Intervention 2, north facing section (Interactive SVG image)
To the east, F284F was identified as a linear feature orientated NW-SE.
Upon excavation, the feature proved to be 2.00m wide x 0.50m deep, displaying
a profile consistent with that of F274F. The ditch backfill system also showed
similarities with that of ditch F274F, consisting of four distinct deposits,
C1534F, C1533F, C1535F and C1527F. The first two backfills were recorded
as brown silty clay and sandy silt, and were followed by a thin brown layer
equivalent to C1513F in F274F, followed by final and complete disuse by the
deposition of C1527F, a greyish-brown sandy silt. A recut of F284F (F281F)
was recorded in the field, but examination of the photographic record concluded
that a stepped profile and slow disuse provided a more satisfactory explanation
(Plate 66, right). Dateable material recovered from F284F included York Gritty
Ware, Beverley Ware and York Splash Glazed Ware.
The two ditches, when projected, could have formed a right-angle and may relate to a larger enclosure of land on the site. The profile of the ditches suggests the possible presence of timber uprights within them, although no post-impressions were detectable, in either section or post-excavation plan. Like the preceding Period 5 activity, Period 6 features were confined largely to the southern area of Fishergate House.
Robber trench or cobble-filled foundation trench F237F was identified in the north facing section of Intervention 2 during excavation (see Figure 44). The feature appeared as a sub-rectangular profile filled with mixed voided rubble, comprising large rounded cobbles and limestone fragments set in a loose matrix of brown clayey silt. The feature, if it had originally extended to the north, had been truncated by later graves. Being cut by an inhumation, F237F has been allocated to Period 6 (burial appears to be densest during Periods 7 and 8), but no dateable material was recovered during excavation. F237F cut an earlier undated feature, F236F, backfilled with dark brown humic clayey silt (C1445F), which may have been related to the original construction of F237F and was also identified in section.
Lay cemetery
The cemetery within the grounds of Fishergate House is currently not well-dated. Thus far, dating relies largely on pottery recovered from graves during excavation, although definition of individual graves cuts was a rare luxury in the field due to the density of burials. In addition, many sherds of pottery were deposited after sherds of later date, proving high levels of residuality. Further, Period 4 pottery, while often appearing in the earliest graves, is considered residual from occupation associated with Structure 1. Consequently, very few sherds are considered to represent reliable dating evidence.
The pottery from these graves has been the subject of condition analysis, and this has demonstrated that sherds of 14th to 15th century date are generally larger than those of preceding centuries. This may suggest that the cemetery was in use solely during this period, with contemporary pottery deposition being subject to less recycling than the ceramics from earlier occupation. However, there are a few graves for which an earlier date cannot be easily dismissed (see below), and the pottery condition analysis may simply reflect more intense burial during the 14th to 15th century rather than the lifespan of the cemetery itself. If so, more graves are likely to belong to Period 6, but cannot be distinguished using the available evidence.
Examination of the rectified stratigraphic diagram for the cemetery suggests that pottery found in six graves could be considered reliable dating evidence: Inhumations 72, 91, 188 and 226 contained sherds of York Splash Glazed Ware and York Gritty Ware, while Inhumations 192 and 232 contained sherds of York Ware. On the basis that the sherds of pottery were deposited in burials which cut subsoil, thus reducing the likelihood of residuality, they are considered amongst the earliest graves and could date to as early as the late 11th century (see Figure 35 for distribution). Inhumations 231 and 232 were intercutting graves and were, in turn, cut by a later cemetery boundary ditch, F288F, allocated to Period 8 - all further indicators that there is some depth of sequence within the cemetery.
More securely, Inhumation 214 contained a grave good identified as an iron slide key, which had been included deliberately with the burial, possibly suspended from the waist or neck. The key is of a type in use between the late 11th and early 13th centuries, proving that burial began at least before the 14th century, and on the basis of the reliable pottery, even earlier.
Without scientific dates, there is little more which can be done by way of demonstrating which graves belong to Period 6. Consequently, inhumations are summarised and discussed in Periods 7 and 8, with broad early and late phases allocated, although the above graves tentatively allocated to Period 6 are marked with an asterisk in Table 4.
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